Key term
CCEA A-Level Physics 1210
Physical Quantities, Scalars and Vectors
Moments and Equilibrium
Linear Motion and Dynamics
Newton's Laws of Motion
Linear Momentum and Impulse
Work, Energy and Power
Current, Charge and Potential Difference
Resistance and Resistivity
Topic overviewResistance and Ohm's lawOhmic and non-ohmic behaviourResistors in series and in parallelInvestigating current, voltage and resistance in series and parallel circuitsElectrical power and energy in resistive circuitsResistivity and the equation R = ρl/AMeasuring the resistivity of a metalCurrent–voltage characteristics of a conductor, a lamp and a diodeResistance, temperature and superconductivity
Internal Resistance and Potential Dividers
Topic overviewInternal resistance and terminal potential differenceConsequences of internal resistance for external circuitsMeasuring electromotive force and internal resistanceThe potential divider and variable outputPotential dividers in lighting and heating control circuitsLoaded potential dividers and output voltage calculations
Waves
Refraction
Lenses
Superposition, Interference and Diffraction
Topic overviewSuperposition of wavesStanding waves, nodes and antinodesStanding waves on stretched stringsStanding waves in a pipe closed at one endMeasuring the speed of sound with a resonance tubeConditions for observable interferencePath difference and phase differenceYoung's double slitDiffraction at a single slitThe diffraction grating
Quantum Physics
Wave-Particle Duality
Astronomy
Practical Skills and Data Analysis
Topic overviewChoosing and using measuring instrumentsPrecision, accuracy and recording measurementsUsing the cathode ray oscilloscope to measure voltage and frequencyTables, graphs and presenting resultsLinearising a relationship and using the gradientAbsolute and percentage uncertaintyCombining uncertainties and uncertainty on a graphRandom and systematic error, reliability and refining an experiment
Deformation of Solids
Thermal Physics
Topic overviewBoyle's law, Charles's law and the pressure lawThe ideal gas equation pV = nRTThe Avogadro constant, the mole and pV = NkTInternal energy and the distribution of molecular energyThe kinetic theory equation pV = ⅓Nm⟨c²⟩Average molecular kinetic energy and temperatureAbsolute zero and the kelvin scaleSpecific heat capacity and the electrical method
Uniform Circular Motion
Simple Harmonic Motion
Topic overviewDefining simple harmonic motion and a = −ω²xDisplacement, velocity and acceleration: x = A cos ωtThe simple pendulum and T = 2π√(l/g)The loaded spiral spring and T = 2π√(m/k)SHM graphs and finding velocity from a gradientFree vibrations, forced vibrations and resonanceDamping: light, critical and over-damping
The Nucleus and Radioactive Decay
Topic overviewAlpha-particle scattering and the nuclear atomNuclear radius and nucleon numberThe density of nuclear matterAlpha, beta and gamma radiation: nature, penetration and rangeNuclear equations and changes in nucleon and proton numberThe random and exponential nature of radioactive decayActivity, the decay constant and A = −λNExponential decay calculations with A = A₀e^(−λt)Half-life and measuring it
Nuclear Energy, Fission and Fusion
Gravitational Fields
Electric Fields
Capacitors
Magnetic Fields
Charged Particles and Accelerators
Gravitational Fields
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Unit A2 2
What Gravitational Fields covers
Gravitational Fields is examined in Unit A2 2, Fields, Capacitors and Particle Physics, and drawn on again in Unit A2 3, Practical Techniques and Data Analysis. It covers fields of force and field lines, gravitational field strength, newton's law of universal gravitation, the field strength of a point mass, circular motion of planets and satellites, Kepler's third law and geostationary satellites.
Where it is assessed
Unit A2 2
Fields, Capacitors and Particle Physics, and again in Unit A2 3, Practical Techniques and Data Analysis.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Fields of force and field linesField of force, field lines in a uniform field and three types of force field met in this specification.Open →
- Gravitational field strengthGravitational field strength and mass and weight.Open →
- Newton's law of universal gravitationNewton's law of universal gravitation and inverse square law.Open →
- The field strength of a point massRecall questions on g = GM/r² and its derivation from Newton's law, why the test mass cancels, worked calculations of the Earth's surface field strength and of the value at one Earth radius above it, finding a planet's mass from g and r, the shape of the g against r graph, and plotting g against 1/r² for a straight line.Open →
- Circular motion of planets and satellitesRecall questions on what supplies the centripetal force in orbit, setting the gravitational force equal to mv²/r and deriving v = √(GM/r), why the satellite's own mass cancels, how speed varies with orbital radius, worked speed and period calculations, why the gravitational force does no work, and why a low orbit decays.Open →
- Kepler's third lawKepler's third law and constant of proportionality in T² = kr³.Open →
- Geostationary satellitesGeostationary satellite, three conditions a geostationary orbit must satisfy and one disadvantage of a geostationary orbit for communications.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Write the equation obtained by setting the gravitational force equal to the centripetal force for a circular orbit.
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What does a field line show?
Evaluation
Give the equation defining gravitational field strength and define each symbol.
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Give the equation for the gravitational force between two point masses and define each symbol.
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State Kepler's third law.
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What is a geostationary satellite?
Evaluation
How is the strength of a field shown by field lines?
Evaluation
State the unit of gravitational field strength.
Key term
Give the value and unit of the gravitational constant G.
Evaluation
Give the equation for the gravitational field strength due to a point mass and define each symbol.
Key term
What provides the centripetal force that keeps a satellite in orbit?
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Write Kepler's third law as a proportionality.
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State the three conditions a geostationary orbit must satisfy.
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In which direction do the gravitational field lines around a planet point?
Key term
Show that N kg⁻¹ is equivalent to m s⁻².
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Under what condition may a large spherical body be treated as a point mass?
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Derive the equation g = GM/r² for the field strength of a point mass from Newton's law of universal gravitation
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Rearrange GMm/r² = mv²/r to give the orbital speed of a satellite, and define each symbol
Key term
Show that Kepler's third law follows from Newton's law of universal gravitation.
Key term
Why must a geostationary satellite orbit from west to east?
Take Gravitational Fields further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a field of force?
Model answer
A region of space in which an object experiences a force because of a property it possesses, such as its mass or its charge.
- 2
What property of an object causes it to experience a force in a gravitational field?
Model answer
Its mass.
- 3
What does a field line show?
Model answer
The direction of the force that would act on a small test object placed at that point in the field.
- 4
How is the strength of a field shown by field lines?
Model answer
By how closely the lines are spaced, since the lines are closer together where the field is stronger.
- 5
In which direction do the gravitational field lines around a planet point?
Model answer
Radially inwards, towards the centre of the planet, because gravity is always attractive.
- 6
Why can two field lines never cross?
Model answer
A crossing point would mean the force there had two different directions at once, which is impossible.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Gravitational Fields revision questions
- What does Gravitational Fields cover in CCEA A-Level Physics?
- 7 subtopics: fields of force and field lines, gravitational field strength, newton's law of universal gravitation, the field strength of a point mass, circular motion of planets and satellites, kepler's third law and geostationary satellites. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Gravitational Fields organised?
- By the CCEA 1210 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Gravitational Fields, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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